Butane gas tank feed device



Jan. 11, 1944. R. BAKER ETAL BUTANE GAS-TANK FEED DEVICE Filed June 15,

1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 1 1 1/ 1 1/ 1/ 1.1 l/ I I 1 ,p-INVENTRS, ROBINBAKER 7 BY JAMES FLEMING 11 11 1 1 11 1 1/ 1 1/ l1 1 1/ I 1/ l/ ,1 H 1685 4 I ll 3 f I I /1 8 I I: l

H1 11 11 1/ 11 11 11 m 11 /1 11 1 11 11 1 kN ATTORNEY.

Jan. 11, 1944. R. BAKER ETAL BUTANE GAS TANK FEED DEVICE Filed June 15,1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

. INVENTORS ROB! N BA KER I J. m F

,BY AME? C.FLEM/N6 :Q-LA'ITORNEY.

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to an improvement in butane gas tanks and more particularly tothe manner of removing the butane from the tank.

The use of butan gas for domestic and commercial purposes has becomequitecommon in various sections of the United States. Butane maintainsa. liquid state at temperatures below 32 F. and may be held in a liquidstate under pressure at higher temperatures. The tanks in which butaneis stored usually operate under pressure obtained by temperature orother methods.

Various forms of butane tanks have been provided heretofore whichutilize the upper portion of the tank itself as an evaporation chamber,whereby the lighter gases evaporate first and the evaporation continuesuntil th liquid residue left in the bottom of the tank becomes so heavythat no gas will evaporate. As the use of the tank continues, this lowgravit liquid accumulates until the eillciency of the gas system isimpaired.

The object of this invention is to feed the agitated liquid fuel into anevaporation tube, whereby the lower specific gravity liquid fuels arecarried oil! in vapor with the higher specific gravity liquid fuels,thereby vaporizing a more even B. t. u. content for feeding into thehouse line and to the appliances.

This object is accomplished'by removing the liquid butane from a pointnear the bottom of the tank and conducting it through a small opening inthe evaporation tubewhere the liquid is generated-into a gas for use,which may thereafter be directed upwardly through a gas chamber andoutlet tube, through a conventional control valve and pressure regulatorto a desired point of use, such as an ordinary gas stove.

be understood that the design may be varied and changes made in theminor details of construction within the scope of the invention asclaimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the accompanying drawings: I I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a butane gas tank and fittings, with partsbroken away and in section and embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

' l0 has one end extending into the chamber 8 Another object of theinvention is to set up an agitation and circulation of the liquids inthe tank by the creation 0! unequal temperatures, brought about by theevaporation of the liquids in the tube.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a gas outlet tube ofrelatively large diameter with respect to the outlet pipe, so that wetgas will fall back into the evaporation tube from the outlet pipe,permitting only dry gas to be directed to the point of use. Athermo-insulated hood or box encloses the various fittings to keep thetemperature of such fittings and gas outlet tube above the evaporationpoint.

We have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodimentof this invention together with modifications thereof, but it is to to apoint level with or spaced above the bottom of the chamber to supply gasthereto and to maintain a predetermined quantity of liquid in.

the tube i0 substantially at th liquid level designated generally by thenumeral II to provide evaporation area in the tube l0.

The evaporation tube Ill extends downwardly substantially to the bottomof tank I and is secured thereto as by welding. The lower end of saidtube has a small opening I! which permits the agitated liquid fuel toenter the tube ill for evaporation of the gas therei'rom.' Theevaporated gas is stored in gas storage chamber 9.

Communicating with the upper portion or the gas storage chamber 8 andcarried by the top of the tank I is a bell-shaped outlet tube ii ofenlarged diameter into which the gas passes as it rises from the liquidin the evaporation tube in. This enlarged diameter of the gas outlettube i3 permits the wet gas particles to settle back into theevaporation tube i0, whereby only dry gas will be fed outward to thepoint of use. The upper end of the gas outlet tube I3 is connected withan excess flow valve H which in turn communicates with a gas line I5leading to the point of use, such as an ordinary stove. The gas line I5is provided with a manually controlled valve I6 therein and with aregulator H, which holds the back pressure on the gas storage chamber 8and tank 1. A pressure gauge It may be provided also and preferablyconnected with the pipe line ii to indicate the pressure of the gaspassing therethrough and likewise the pressure in the tank 1.

As the liquid evaporates and the gas is used, the pressure in theevaporation tube has a tendency todrop, which permits additional liquidbutane to be forced into the evaporation tube by the pressure in thetank. This will cause the liquid level to rise in the tube therebyagitating the liquid fuel in both the evaporation tube In and tank I.

The liquid in the tank 1 has three distinct movements, that is, athermo-circulation as indicated by the arrows which is due to thechilling of the large tube I0; another circulation is produced by thetravel of the liquid toward the opening in the bottom of the tube In. Athird movement, which is intermittent, is created by the opening of agas burner or a Withdrawing of gas from the chamber '9, which will causean inrush of liquid into the tube I0, causing the level momentarily torise, and as soon as the pressure becomes equalized, the fluid wills'ettle back, agitating the liquid fuel in the tank. This constantagitation of the fuel in the tank permits the withdrawal of an agitatedliquid of substantially an even specific gravity at all times. This isvery desirable, as gas burners, when adjusted for a certain B. t. u. gascontent, do not function economically on gases of different B. t. u.content.

Commercial butane gas contains approximately 70% butane which has aboiling point of 32 F. and weighs approximately five pounds per gallon.It contains approximately 3260 B. t. u. per cubic foot, and at 60 F. thegas enclosed within a tank will exert a pressure of approximately twentypounds per square inch. Commercial butane also contains isobutane andpropane in about equal proportions. Isobutane is lighter in specificgravity, weighing approximately four pounds fourteen ounces per gallon,and at 60 temperature will exert a pressure of approximately thirty-fivepounds per square inch in a tank. The boiling point of isobutane isapproximately 12 F. and it contains approximately 3000 B. t. u. percubic foot. Propane weighs approximately four pounds twelve ounces pergallon and at 60 F. it exerts a pressure of approximately seventyfivepounds per square inch in a tank. The boiling point is approximately -48F. and it has approximately 2550 B. t. 11. per cubic foot. There aretraces of heavier fuels in the liquified gas; consequently when the fuelremains in an unagitated static condition, these liquids of varyingspecific gravities tend to stratify, which happens when the evaporationmethods used heretofore are employed.

By this invention, the agitated liquids are removed from the bottom ofthe storage tank and are conveyed into the evaporation tube l0.Furthermore, the evaporation of liquids within the tube In causes alowering of the temperature of this chamber and the liquid butane in thetank is chilled near this chamber thereby setting up a circulation ofthe liquid butane in the tank, substantially as illustrated by thearrows therein, which will bring about the agitation of the liquid andserve to prevent stratification of liquids of different specificgravities.

The butane tank is usually buried in the ground, and to provide accessthereto and to the fittings thereof, a hood or housing 19 eXtendsupwardly from the tank to the surface of the ground, enclosing thefittings. The hood or housing 19 has a removable cover 20 hingedprovided with insulating material 2| which serves to keep thetemperature within the hood above the point of evaporation.

The outlet tube I3 is enclosed within the hood or housing l9, and alsoenclosed within this hood or housing and connected with the top of thetank 1 are a filling pipe 22 and a vent pipe 23, both provided withconventional valves 24 at the upper ends thereof. A gauge tube 25extends through the top of the tank to a point near the bottom thereofand has its upper end enclosed in a housing 26.

The modification of the invention which is shown in Fig. 4, is similarin structure and operation to that described above, except that acombined gas and evaporation chamber 9' is disposed exteriorly of thetank I and a tube In extends into the chamber 9 from a point adjacentthe bottom of the tank, having its upper end spaced above the bottom ofthe chamber 9' in order to maintain a liquid level therein, whereby toprovide for evaporation of the butane gas from the liquid in thecombined gas and evaporation chamber. the invention operates in thesameway as described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 3.

In the further modification shown in Fig. 5, a vertically disposedoutlet tube 28 is mounted di- .rectly in the tank Ia and extends throughthe thereto and both the cover and the side walls are 1 top of the tankbeing connected with the outlet pipe as described above. Outlet tube 28extends downwardly in the tank to a point near the bottom thereof whereit is provided with an orifice 29 to admit the liquid butane from thetank into the lower end of the tube, the liquid rising in the tube to aliquid level substantially as indicated by the numeral 30. The upperportion of the tube 28 forms an evaporation chamber that permits thebutane gas to evaporate and pass off through the outlet pipe to thepoint of use. This form of the invention will function substantially inthe same manner as described above in connection with the other formsthereof, having induced thermo-circulation due to the evaporation of theliquid and the discharge of thegas from the evaporation chamber 3|.

While the system has been described in connection with butane gas, it isto be understood that any liquid suitable for the purpose may be used.

We claim:

1. A fuel storage receptacle comprisinga tank for liquid fuel, aseparate evaporation chamber adjacent the top of the tank and of wideshallow construction, means for withdrawing liquid from a point adjacentthe bottom of the tank and directing the same into the evaporationchamber, and means for directing gaseous fuel from said evaporationchamber.

2. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank, an evaporation chamberseparate from said tank and of Wide shallow construction, means forwithdrawing liquid fuel from a point adjacent the bottom of the tank anddirecting the same into the evaporation chamber, means for maintaining aliquid level in said evaporation chamber to provide for evaporation ofgas from the liquid therein, and means for withdrawing the liberated gasfrom said chamber.

3. A fuel receptacle comprising a tank adapted to contain liquid fuel,means forming an evaporation chamber adjacent the top of said tank andof wide shallow construction, a tube extending from a point adjacent thebottom of the tank Otherwise, this form of into the evaporation chamberand having the discharge point thereof spaced above the bottom of saidchamber for maintaining a liquid level in the evaporation chamber toprovide for evaporation of gas from the liquid, and means forwithdrawing the liberated gas from said chamber.

4. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank, and an enclosed gasstorage chamber at an upper portion of the tank and having asubstantially closed bottom with a tube separate from said chamber andextending downwardly from the bottom thereof in said tank, said tubehaving communication with the tank for withdrawing liquid therefrom intothe storage chamber.

5. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank,

1 a separated enlarged gas storage chamber at an upper portion of thetank having a substantially closed bottom, and an evaporation tubeconnected with the bottom of said storage chamber and extendingdownwardly therefrom in said tank, said tube having communication withthe tank for withdrawing liquid therefrom and for maintaining a liquidlevel in the tube, said tube being of sufficiently large diameter forevaporation of gas from the liquid therein.

6. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank for liquid fuel, meansforming an enclosed wide evaporation chamber adjacent the tank, andmeans for withdrawing liquid from the tank for liberation of gas in saidevaporation chamber.

7. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank for liquid fuel, meansforming an enclosed wide shallow evaporation chamber adjacent the tankseparate therefrom, and means for withdrawing liquid from the tank forseparation of gas in said evaporation chamber.

8. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank for liquid fuel, meansforming a wide shallow closed-top evaporation chamber at the top of thetank, and means extending downwardly from said evaporation chamber inthe tank to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for withdrawing liquidfrom the tank for liberation of gas in said evaporation chamber.

9. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank for liquid fuel, meansforming a wide shallow evaporation chamber at the top of the tank, andmeans extending downwardly from said evaporation chamber, in the tank toa point adjacent the bottom thereof for withdrawing liquid from the tankfor liberation of gas in said evaporation chamber, and a bell receiverarranged over the chamber in open communication therewith forwithdrawing the liberated gas therefrom.

10. A fuel storage receptacle comprising a tank for liquid fuel, meansforming an enclosed wide shallow evaporation chamber extendinghorizontally at the top of the tank and of appreciable horizontal area,and a conduit extending downwardly from said evaporation chamber in thetank for withdrawing liquid therefrom into the evaporation chamber forliberation of gas therefrom.

ROBDI BAKER. JAMES C. FLEMING.

